Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX hands-on

Let’s be serious here, we can’t help but reiterate that the Motorola DROID RAZR was one of the best looking smartphones released last year. For all the stellar hardware it’s hiding within its body, it’s utterly amazing to even believe for a moment that its construction and design was possible – yet, Motorola remarkably did it! However, one of the biggest complaints about the device, which is the same with all 4G LTE smartphones we’ve checked out, is that battery life is abysmally poor. In fact, most devices last just a tiny bit more than 8 hours. Well, that’s where the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX comes to mind!

To put it lightly, the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX is the Motorola DROID RAZR, but it’s packing an insanely large 3,300 mAh battery – rated for over 21 hours of talk time! Even though it utilizes the same solid design of the DROID RAZR, the DROID RAZR MAXX is expanded to a thickness of 0.35” (8.99mm). So yeah, it doesn’t retain the same thickness, but nevertheless, it’s still undeniably thin and uniform by today’s standards. Beyond that, we still adore that it employs only the best materials out there with its construction – like its Kevlar back, diamond cut aluminum accents, and stainless steel core.

Sharing the same hardware as its slimmer sibling, the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX polarizes our eyes with its always magnificent 4.3” qHD Super AMOLED display. Furthermore, some of the other commonalities include a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4430 processor, 8-megaixel auto-focus camera, 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, and 4G LTE connectivity. However, it’s worth noting it’s been amped with a total storage capacity of 32GB – broken down to 16GB of internal storage and a 16GB microSD card.

As a whole, there isn’t much new with the handset, but we’re sure that some people are going to be relieved knowinig that it’s packing one hefty battery inside of its body – without turning it into a hefty phone. Verizon is pegging this one to have the same $299.99 on-contract price as its sibling, but its exact release day is still unknown. Nonetheless, we’re certain it’ll be here soon than you think!

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I like the design better because its the perfect thickness and has less of a hump. Not to mention the first lte phone with good battery life. Hats off to moto hopefully they could sell these batteries to other companies.

It's not a whole new phone. Same phone, larger battery, and thicker back to fit the battery. No other changes. Unfortunately there haven't been any breakthroughs in battery technology in the last two months to allow them to put double the charge in the same thin package as the RAZR.

One thing that nexus owner never realise or cannot convice themselves to realise is that by the time the Razr gets ICS, the Nexus already with ICS will be a few months old and become obsolete, while the razr runnng with Gingerbread will be "REFRESHED" with the new latest version of ICS they just received by that time . This will give the razr a whole brand new look and feel with the new UI experence come with latest ICS. This will make the razr feel new again because of this new OS updated.Also dont forget the New ICS will be incorporating the new "HOLLO" theme as requested by google in order to avoid any fragmentation and maintain consistency UI experience across all smart manufaturer. So the motoblur atop will not exist at all.

it will get as many subsequent updates as it will get because of the advantage of being a google subsidary and the unloacked bootloader worldwide.

Dwelling only on the point of ICS and subsequent updated itself is NOT going to give the Nexus any real merits or advantages over the Razr in the real worldwide scenerio because a smart phone itself is more than just the OS. There are many other aspects to be considered as a whole.

The Razr also offers some functions like Motocast, smart actions, laddock, etc. that the Nexus will never offer. Also, the internatinal vrsion of motorola razr has un unlocked bootloader ( not the VZW version) thjat can get custom ICS rom as soon a sthey become available. So with such a big battery capacity, motorola has said new battery standard in the smart phone history even Galaxy Nexus cannot match.

So what, this new razr Maxx will attract many brand new buyers who are really concerned with battery life of a smart phone. Adding to it the original quality and features came with the original razr and the unlocked booloader, the custom ICS is already out for and running in the Razr. This new battery standard will only add one more merit to the original razr that the new Nexus is not able to match. Let alone other aspects like the premium built and call quality and other practical functions that made the razr remains a top notch phone.

The international version of the RAZR also has a locked bootloader. But there are already custom ROMs available for the RAZR - fast and debloated - and CM9 (custom ICS) will be out soon enough I'm sure. ICS is running on RAZR already. It remains a top notch phone.

The Razr also offers things that the nexus never offers such as 3300MAH battery, metal built quality and supererb call quality, practical funstions like motocast, smart actions, etc. Also dont forget the international version of Razr has unlocked bootloader so loading custom rom is not any problem. Only those customers with VZW has to suffer.

I don't understand how people can be happy with this. If you make a phone with an irreplaceable battery perhaps you should nail it on the first try in terms of life. Seriously, if they're going to release a suped up version overseas I don't see why we have to wait for an incremental update. I smell the RAZR Refresh right around the corner with 720p and 12mp camera which they should have just tacked on this especially with the bigger battery. It's plain to see these companies just want to jerk us for our money. And yes I probably will swap out my less than 30day old RAZR for the MAXX...still annoyed and it's probably gonna kill my sperm count or just give me cancer.

I really hope the next nexus its a three way effort between samsung/moto/google. I would like a moto designed phone with kevlar and a moto battery. Along with a samsung processor and screen. On verizon to boot.

Unfortunately, I think manufacturers are a little to lawsuit happy for something like that to happen anytime soon. I wouldn't mind sitting in on the brainstorming R&D sessions if those 3 hooked up for a superphone,though.

I get over two days with my razr but thats probally because Im in a 3g only area. IM sure these other people arent using 4g which is what drains the battery so quick. Otherwise this is the best battery Ive ever had in any android and it the regular razr.

The razr is the very first phone that Motorola has made an unlock bootloader. Only the verizon ahs chosen to lock the bootloader. All international version of Razr has the unlocked bootloader, so it is not a deal breaker in the worldwide scenerio.

Actually my OG Droid was unlocked. But it still does not have the widespread support of custom ROMs. But you're correct, I forgot that Motorola unlocked it internationally. But for those of us on VZW, you're SOL.

The razr is certainly better than the Galaxy Nexus because it does not offer constantly random reboot for no reason as reported by so many Nexus owners out there. If you want a phone that keep on rebooting many times every day, then get a Nexus. If you want a phone that runs stable with a lot of batteyr power, get this phone.

My guess is the MAXX will drop January 19th!!
In a way, I'm glad this iteration is being released; 3300 mAh should shut up all those Apple (krApple) fanboiS screaming about battery life on Android and 4G, especially all those morons over at iBGR.

Besides battery life, no incentive for me to want this phone - I get 2 days worth of use as it is on my DROID RAZR...but more battery life is better....Galaxy Note is more appealing.
Agree with ardent1 - this phone offers minor upgrade - like iphone 4 then onto iphone 4s.

Yes, agreed (with you and Ardent1), although I really have no issue with the LCD (like some people who take a telescope to compare the difference in resolution between RAZR™'s LCD compared to Rezound or the Galaxy Necrosis) or the difference in screen size from 4.3 to 4.5. But, I disagree that this upgrade would be analogous to iPhone 4 to 4S as, unlike the iPhone 4/4S, this phone (as well as the MAXX) works on more than just a wi-fi connection.

There is already ICS rom out for and running on the razr and most international version of razr has the bootloader unlocked so getting ICS custom rom is not a problem at all. Do realise that once the Razr gets ICS later, it will be like a few months old phone but refreshed again with a brand new OS. This is going to give the already obsoleted Razr a brand new and fresh look and feel again with the just updated ICS OS, while the Nexus with a few months old ICS is also already felt obsolete with no fresh and new feel.

Also this new razrmaxx not only comes with a larger battery but also with a 16GB microSd card preinstalled, that will save the new razrmaxx buyer soem money for buying extra SD card for additional memory.

Piss and moan much? Omg, it's like they are forcing you to go buy the damn phone. Such a bunch of whingers, like really...no seriously. The Maxx is for those power hungry users of the Razr. This is obviously a tech boost, since they fit such a big battery in such a thin phone, most phone makers can barely fit a 1,500mH battery in a phone without turning it into a giant brick. Galaxy nexus is only a showcase for ICS, but it's still like other samsung phones look and works great, but has poor ass battery life and iffy LTE connection right out of the box.

First time I ever head of complaints because you have options, just because you have an inability to curb your purchasing habits, don't complain about a new or updated phone coming out every few months. Find some self control, sound like alcoholics blaming the bar for selling alcohol...

Hahahaha.......... So finally we have Moto Razr S and HTC Titan S........ Moto should have launched the Razr Maxx with HD screen and 12 mp camera, like they had launched in China........ I think, should wait for Moto Razr HD prime( with HD screen, quad core processor and 12mp camera)..........

Who needs super thin phones... Well I think the razor maxx is much functional since it has a battery that i think no phone out there can match (currently) and who goes around comparing our phones thickness??? Apple fans?

I have the extended battery for the Bionic (2760ma) so reasonably close to battery being featured here

21 hours......BS!!!!!

I admit I am a more than an average user and I do travel in and out of 4G during the work day and I get about 10 hours out of a battery.....I keep bluetooth on but turn off GPS and WiFi

I buy a phone to use it....not sit on the seat next to me......and I wont turn everything off, darken the screen to the point I cant see it and not use widgets because I want the longest life possible.

but them saying you get 21 hours is ludicrous.....with this phone you MAY get away with charging every other day if you dont use your phone that much

so let me get this right.... They took the Droid Bionic made it smaller and renamed it the Razr....then took the Razr and made it a Droid Bionic with a bigger battery? And people continue to wonder why there are so many Android phones on the shelves, Im going to love when I have customers come back and complain.

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